Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-10-15

rise and fau, and eras pas, and the world
itself changes, but God still keeps the undi-
vided mastery, linking event to event and
century to century. To God they are all one
event, one history, one plan, one development,
works, Lord God Almighty.
Furthermore; we learn from this story the
propriety Of laying up for the future. Dur
ing seven years of plenty Joseph preparation
the famine, and when it came he had q
crowded storehouse. The life of most men In
q worldly respect is divided into years Of
plenty and famine. It is seldom that any
man passes through life without at least seven
years of plenty. During these seven prosperous
years your business bears a rich harvest.
You hardly know where all the money comes
from, it comes 50 fast. Every bargain you
make seems to turn into gold You contract
few bad debts. You are astounded with
large dividends. You invest more and more
capital. You wonder how men can be
content with a small business, gather
ing in only a hundred dollars where
you reap your thousands. These are the
time to prepare for famine: for to almost
every man there do come seven years of
famine You will be sick; you will be
unfortunate; you will be defrauded
you will be disappointed; you win be
old, and II you have no storehouse
struck We have no admiration for this
denying ones self of all present comfort and
luxury for the mere pleasure Of boarding up,
this grasping for the mere pleasure of seeing
how large pile you can get, this always
being poor and cramped because as soon as
dollar comes in it is sent out to see if it
can't find another dollar to carry home on its
back; but there is an intelligent and noble
minded forecast which we love to see
in men who have families and kindred
dependent upon them for the blessings Of
education and home. God sends US to the
insects for lesson which, while they do not
stint themselves in the present, do not forget
ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and
be wise, which, having no guide, overseer, or
ruler, provideth her meat in the sum
mer and gathereth her food in the
harvest" Now there are two ways
of laying up money; the one by. investing it
in stock and depositing it in banks and loan
| ing it on bond and mortgage. The other wav
Of laying up money is giving it away. He is
| the safest who makes both of these invest
ments. But the man who devotes none of his
| gain to the cause Of Christ and thinks
only Of his own comfort and luxury.
Is not safe, don't care how his money is in
| vested. He acted as the rose if it should say !:
II will hold my breath and no one shall
have snatch Of fragrance from me until
next week, and then / will set all the
| garden afloat with the aroma The time
comes, but having been without fragrance for
| so long, has nothing then to give. But above
| all lay up treasures in heaven. They never
depreciate in value. They never are at
| discount They are always available. You
may feel safe now with your present yearly
| income, but what will such an income be
worth after you are dead2 Others will get it,
Perhaps some of them will quarrel about it
before you. are. buried. They will
6sa uferhf rrl0 hAR
They are only waiting for you to die.
What then will all your accumulation
Dc worth If you could gather It all into your
bosom and walk up with it to heavens gatel
1t would not purchase your admission; or,
if allowed to enter, it could not buy you
crown or robe, and the poorest saint in
heaven would look down and say: where
did that pauper come fromP'
Finally, learn from this subject that in
every famine there is storehouse. Up the
long row of building. piled to the very roof
with corn, come the hungry multitudes, and
Joseph commanded that their sacks and their
wagons be filed. The world has been blasted.
Every green thing was withered under the
touch OF sin. From all continents
and islands, and zones, comes up the
groan Of dying millions. aver tropical
spice-grove. and Siberian ice-hut. and
Hindu jungle the blight has fallen. The fam
inc is universal. But, glory be to Godl there
- sred1 sIOIeuouSe Jesus Cnrist, our eidef
brother, this day bids us come in from our
hunger and beggary, and obtain infinite sup
plies Of grace enough to make US rich forever.
Many of you have for all a long
while been smitten of the famine.
The world has not stilled the throbbing
of your spirit. Your conscience sometimes
rouses you up with such suddenness and
strength that it requires the most gigantic
determination to quen the disturbance. Your
courage quakes at the thought of the future.
Oh, why will you tarry amid the blastings Of
the famine when such a glorious storehouse
Is open in Gods mercyl
"Ye wretched. hungry, starving poor.
Behold o royal feast
Where mercy spreads her bounteous store
For every humble guest.
"See, Jesus stands with open arms,
He calls, he bids you come;
Guilt holds you back and fear alarms.
But see, there Jet l. room"